The Fred Hotel to Expand With 34 Rooms as Historical Preservation Committee Gives Greenlight

The St. Croix Historic Preservation Committee conditionally approved the expansion of the Fred Hotel during its April monthly meeting following a detailed discussion with architect Clarence Browne.

Mr. Browne made the application before the HPC last Thursday, presenting plans to refurbish an existing structure and build a new one to accommodate 24 additional guest rooms near the corner of Strand and Fisher Streets. Another new building was proposed for the empty lot just north of the Fred, across the Queen Street right of way. That would be subdivided into 10 more guest rooms, the architect explained, for a total of 34 more rooms overall.

The construction project would be conducted with the goal of maintaining architectural harmony with the existing buildings, Mr. Browne told HPC members. The guest blocks would be two-story buildings, with the existing building on the south corner renovated to align its aesthetic with that of the Fred, ensuring a seamless visual transition between structures. The intention, according to Mr. Browne, is to add capacity without altering the neighborhood’s overall look and feel.

Committee members raised several concerns, including ensuring that the roofline of the new 24-room building would connect to the existing structures in a way that is not too jarring. “I think we’ll take a look at that,” responded Mr. Browne, assuring that final designs would ensure a co-ordinated look for the completed project.